Like Chris I too misses the days of old when we celebrated lunar new year with grandma and grandpa. The 5 events I missed most:-
The gathering at Grandpa's home in Victoria St, Penang
At 149, the Tan clan would gather. 2nd uncle will sharpen the knife takes his time to slices the thinest slice of abalone for dinner. 5th uncle the boisterious one never fails to liven the dinner with endless supply of liquor. 6th uncle updating us on the latest hazaard at his work site while 7th uncle the quiet one, would smile and listen quietly as the rest of the aunties and uncles would joke and cajole one another round the dinner table.
All the under 20 will sit round the mable table in the kitchen tucking in the steamboat in the traditional charcoal pot.
The gathering at Grandpa's home in Victoria St, Penang
At 149, the Tan clan would gather. 2nd uncle will sharpen the knife takes his time to slices the thinest slice of abalone for dinner. 5th uncle the boisterious one never fails to liven the dinner with endless supply of liquor. 6th uncle updating us on the latest hazaard at his work site while 7th uncle the quiet one, would smile and listen quietly as the rest of the aunties and uncles would joke and cajole one another round the dinner table.
All the under 20 will sit round the mable table in the kitchen tucking in the steamboat in the traditional charcoal pot.
Aunt's delicious stew of all the left overs.
On 1st day For lunch, 1st aunt would stew a big pot of chye buai (Which literally means left overs in hokkien) together with dried bamboo shoots , vegetable and assortment of I don't know what. It's so yummy just thinking about it.
Ang Pow
Lined in a row around 12 to 15 grandchildren from the eldest to the youngest to receive our ang pow from grandpa. A man of few words, he would smile and nod. To see us all his grandchildren in front of him. In those days, anypows usually consist of $2.
Gambling
On the 1st day of the lunar new year, we, the cousins, would make small bets on card games namely poker. 6th and 7th uncle would always be so sporting to join in. And of course at the end of the day the winners.
Firecracker
Towards night fall, eldest cousin Choon Howe, would lead the way. We would congregate at the five foot way, watching as the neighbours and the boys as they swiftly light the crackers and scamper away before it burst into bangs of colourful hues and deafening noise. Into the night, fire crackers can be heard.
Sadly that has been 25 years ago. Except for weddings, the Tan clan has hardly come together as they are scattered in every corner of the earth. Even then, there has never been a complete reunion of all the 7 uncles 5 aunts and 27 cousins.
On 1st day For lunch, 1st aunt would stew a big pot of chye buai (Which literally means left overs in hokkien) together with dried bamboo shoots , vegetable and assortment of I don't know what. It's so yummy just thinking about it.
Ang Pow
Lined in a row around 12 to 15 grandchildren from the eldest to the youngest to receive our ang pow from grandpa. A man of few words, he would smile and nod. To see us all his grandchildren in front of him. In those days, anypows usually consist of $2.
Gambling
On the 1st day of the lunar new year, we, the cousins, would make small bets on card games namely poker. 6th and 7th uncle would always be so sporting to join in. And of course at the end of the day the winners.
Firecracker
Towards night fall, eldest cousin Choon Howe, would lead the way. We would congregate at the five foot way, watching as the neighbours and the boys as they swiftly light the crackers and scamper away before it burst into bangs of colourful hues and deafening noise. Into the night, fire crackers can be heard.
Sadly that has been 25 years ago. Except for weddings, the Tan clan has hardly come together as they are scattered in every corner of the earth. Even then, there has never been a complete reunion of all the 7 uncles 5 aunts and 27 cousins.
2 comments:
Hey Liling, seems like the sentimental fools in us miss more or less the same things! Kids these days dunno how much fun they are missing!
今天是正月初七，祝你“人日快乐”！
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